African vice president charged in French probe

PARIS (AP) — French judicial authorities have filed preliminary charges of alleged money laundering against the son of Equatorial Guinea's president.

A lawyer for the son, Vice President Teodorin Obiang Nguema, insisted Thursday his client has diplomatic immunity.

French financial prosecutors said Obiang, the son of President Teodoro Obiang, was told by video conference of three counts of money laundering under a probe into the acquisition of properties in France by the leaders of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo.

After Obiang made himself available, French authorities lifted an international arrest warrant they had issued for him.

Authorities are still working to calculate the total value of real estate, luxury cars, art and other property in France that Transparency International estimates at least in tens of millions of euros.